Salvador activates a protocol to have Julián detained and returned to the Ministry. Meanwhile, a cop from 1981 arrives in the present chasing a murderer who fled through a closet that turns out to have been a time door. His name is Jesús Méndez, nicknamed "Pacino" for his resemblance to the actor. In 2016, Pacino discovers that the he was declared guilty in absentia of the murders he was investigating.

Notes(contain spoilers)

* This is the first episode in the series which does not feature an historical event (other than what airs on the television in 1981) or an historical person as a character.
* The plot was inspired by the so-called "Murder House" in Antonio Grilo St 3, Madrid. That building has become infamous for the high number of violent deaths that have happened there or nearby, including murders, suicides and accidents since 1909 at least. (per imdb)
* Pacino seems a bit aggravated that no one in the future (other than Salvador) is familiar with either Al Pacino or the movie Serpico. He doesn't realize that all of them hail from previous eras. Salvador prefers Sir Laurence Olivier.
* This episode acknowledges Alonso's gradual character development throughout season 1, in that he describes his (platonic) respect and admiration for Amelia. At the beginning of the first season, he had scoffed at the idea of a woman leading the team.

This episode gave me a “Frequency” vibe, what with Pacino’s tattoo disappearing once he changed the timeline, and the coda scene of his father giving him his gun instead of using it to kill himself.posted by oh yeah! at 11:19 AM on May 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

Oh - was that reveal at the end of Irene talking about having wanted to improve the Ministry showing that she and Lola were in cahoots, or was the woman in the car someone new? When the scene started I thought it was her wife for a minute.posted by oh yeah! at 11:46 AM on May 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

This episode gave me a “Frequency” vibe, what with Pacino’s tattoo disappearing once he changed the timeline, and the coda scene of his father giving him his gun instead of using it to kill himself.

It reminded me in the moment of Back to the Future and people vanishing in photos, but Frequency is a more apt comparison.

Oh - was that reveal at the end of Irene talking about having wanted to improve the Ministry showing that she and Lola were in cahoots, or was the woman in the car someone new? When the scene started I thought it was her wife for a minute.

That is Susana Torres. We met her in Season 1, Episode 6: Time of Rogues. She is the liaison between the Spanish government and the Ministry of Time. Salvador hates her. Irene meeting with Susana implies that she is either trying to undermine the Ministry or force changes upon it.posted by zarq at 11:59 AM on May 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

If you're interested in European Spanish as a second language, this series is a mine. A frequent source of humour in this season is the mutual incomprehension between Pacino, who speaks in the urban slang popularised by 80's movies, and Alonso, who speaks in the movie version of 16th Century "olde Spanishe".posted by kandinski at 1:31 PM on May 22, 2018 [2 favorites]

In terms of the Irene storyline, I suspect that Salvador knows that Irene is a mole. We will see how it plays out, but I think he's keeping her close so he can manipulate the information she gets.posted by miss-lapin at 6:24 PM on May 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

So, I have a question about the mechanics of time travel after this episode. If the answer is hands waving and repeating “It’s just a show,” I’m totally OK with that.
I think the wardrobe is the first door that we’ve seen that travels forward, but also still exists in 2016. What happens if you try to go through it in 2016?
It can’t go forward another 35 years, because “This is the last stop.” But it can’t have stopped working, because a year from now in the past (in 1982), it will (presumably) lead to 2017, and 35 years from now is the past (in 2016), it WILL lead to 2051.
Maybe for now(Now) it’s just a wardrobe, but in 35 years, the back will suddenly open up, leading to the now(then)-existing “last stop” future.
I’m not sure there’s a definitive answer, but also I don’t care because this show is so great.posted by LEGO Damashii at 8:45 AM on July 6, 2018